What Games May Jesus have Played?
even knuckle bones!
Older children and adults would have played
different kinds of board games. There was a game
called “Hounds and Jackals” that may have been
played like we play checkers or perhaps chess. An­
other game made from limestone looked like the
Peg Game found at Cracker Barrel® Restaurants. It
is played with small blue green Egyptian ceramic
like game pieces which were moved around the
stone game board.
Athletic competitions, similar to our modern
day track and field events, were often held. These
included foot races, chariot races, boxing, wres­
tling, and hurling discus and javelin. Winners were
given only a crown of leaves, but were held in high
honor by their fellow citizens.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus might have
played with when he was growing up? It is fun to
imagine what these games would look like and the
fun that Jesus may have had playing them with his
family and friends! But it is hard to know for sure
because the Bible doesn’t talk about them, but we
know that children and adults did play games as
they have been found by archeologists.
An archeologist is someone who digs through
layers and layers of the ground to find things left
by people who used to live in that place a long time
ago. When archeologists looked at the area where
Jesus lived they found dice games that might be
like the game Yahtzee® that we play today. They
also had things like whistles, spinning tops, and
carved animals on wheels. These toys and games
were made from things like ivory, stone, wood, and
Books in the New Testament use some game references to describe the Christian
life. See if you can match these by drawing a line to the correct Bible verses:
1. Run the Race with Perseverance
a.
a II Timothy 2:5
2. Run to win the prize
b. Philippians 3:14
b
3. Press toward the goal
c.
c I Corinthians 9:24-27
4. Compete according to the rules
d. Hebrews 12:1-2
d
When Thanksgiving and Christmas come
around, many churches across the nation gather
canned foods, clothing, personal hygiene sup­
plies, and an abundance of other items to give to
those in need in the church and community. Oc­
casionally churches will include Bibles or devo­
tional materials.
Rose Fremer of St. James, Montague encour­
ages congregations to add something new this
year – a nativity set. Fremer, who began this na­
tivity set ministry a little over five years ago, says
that the addition of a nativity set to care packages
can have many benefits. “It is simple enough for
anyone to do and it brings joy to everyone, both
giver and receiver,” she said.
Nativity sets can be shared with the smallest
children as well as the elderly. Plush versions
18
Michigan In Touch
June / July 2008
Way
can bring
the story of
Jesus’ birth
to life for
children.
Alzheimer’s
patients also benefit from these sets as it not
only reminds them of the Christmas story, but
helps them remember family traditions.
Mrs. Fremer encourages congregations to pur­
chase sets for different nationalities represented in
its community (Hispanic, African-American, etc.)
to help share the Christmas story.
For more information about the Nativity Set
Ministry or the set pictured, contact Rose Fremer at
231.894.5235. More information about this minis­
try can be found at www.nativitysetministry.org.
Answer Key: 1:D, 2:C, 3:B, 4:A
Get
et
t Started
St rt
Early
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Share Christmas in a New